Google settles Buzz lawsuit with $8.5 million fund

Following a very, very rocky start for Google’s latest social networking effort, Google Buzz, the Internet giant has settled a class action lawsuit related to the service. When Buzz launched earlier this year, Google found itself at the center of a media frenzy. The company decided it would forgo an opt-in process and share users’ locations with each Google account holder in their address books by default. The decision turned out to be a PR nightmare — and now it carries a financial burden with it as well. As a result of a class action settlement, Google has agreed to put in place an $8.5 million fund dedicated to “promoting privacy education on the web,” and it is now in the process of informing its users. Hit the break for the email Google is currently sending to all account holders.

Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an
exception to let you know that we’ve reached a settlement in a lawsuit
regarding Google Buzz (http://buzz.google.com), a service we launched
within Gmail in February of this year.

Shortly after its launch, we heard from a number of people who were
concerned about privacy. In addition, we were sued by a group of Buzz users
and recently reached a settlement in this case.

The settlement acknowledges that we quickly changed the service to address
users’ concerns. In addition, Google has committed $8.5 million to an
independent fund, most of which will support organizations promoting
privacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educate
people about privacy controls specific to Buzz. The more people know about
privacy online, the better their online experience will be.

Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmail
can file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail is
included in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out before
December 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreement
on January 31, 2011. This email is a summary of the settlement, and more
detailed information and instructions approved by the court, including
instructions about how to opt out, object, or comment, are available athttp://www.BuzzClassAction.com.

Yep these emails came through periodically all day today on my three Gmail accounts. It seems to be a bit unclear about what we are actually receiving. Anyone have more details on this?

Mgl323

And none of us are getting a dime..

Ctberg

Why should you?

Joe J

” Google has committed $8.5 million to an
independent fund, most of which will support organizations promoting
privacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educate
people about privacy controls specific to Buzz”

not a damm nickle. ohhh poop

http://twitter.com/evulhotdog evulhotdog

Whats the point of putting money aside if youre not giving it to the consumer who you fucked over?

http://twitter.com/ccubed_techno cooper click

This has to be the most ridiculous lawsuit I have ever seen. It’s on par with mcdonald’s being sued for not having caution hot on their coffee. If you didn’t like Buzz, it was never a secret how to turn it off. If you’re too lazy to go read the documentation that was available from day one then tough. It’s not the companies job to handle your responsibilities for what you put on the Internet. I still have buzz and no one knows where I am nor did They ever. That’s your own fault. It’s not like buzz magically wormed it’s way into your gmail account nor did it just automatically link with your cell phone or other devices to give location updates. Seriously, protect your own damn privacy by limiting what you put on the net and what you link with your accounts. Google’s only responsibility is to your personally identifiable information that you didn’t actively put in public.